Automated Defect Detection in Solar Cell Images Using Deep Learning Algorithms

This research study introduces a unique method that makes use of a wide range of deep learning (DL) techniques for automated flaw identification in solar cell images. The research paper investigates how well 24 distinct convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures— Residual network (ResNet), densely connected convolutional networks (DenseNet), visual geometry group (VGG), Inception, mobile network (MobileNet), Xception, SqueezeNet, and AlexNet—classify solar cells into defected and non-defective categories. This study is interesting since it does a thorough assessment of a wide variety of models and concentrates on high-performance architectures and lightweight models that may be used in contexts with limited resources. The research paper performed our studies using a balanced and well-curated dataset of 3,102 images of solar cells with a range of common faults. MobileNetV2 and Xception demonstrated excellent performance in defect identification, with accuracy rates of 99.95% and 99.29% respectively, with minimal validation losses. This study demonstrates the potential of efficient models such as MobileNetV2 for real-world use in solar energy generation. It also provides a detailed comparison of several DL models. The results suggest that the inclusion of these models might significantly enhance quality control systems, offering a reliable and efficient method for detecting flaws in solar cells.